Benjamin Britten was Britain's greatest twentieth-century composer, who broke decisively with figures such as Elgar and Vaughan Williams and recreated English music in a fresh, modern, European form.
Presents an account of Britten's life, exploring his deeply held and controversial pacifism; his complex forty-year relationship with Peter Pears; and his creation of an artistic community in Aldeburgh. This book helps us understand the relationship of Britten's music to his life, and takes us as far into its alchemy as we are ever likely to go.
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Summary
Benjamin Britten was Britain's greatest twentieth-century composer, who broke decisively with figures such as Elgar and Vaughan Williams and recreated English music in a fresh, modern, European form.
Presents an account of Britten's life, exploring his deeply held and controversial pacifism; his complex forty-year relationship with Peter Pears; and his creation of an artistic community in Aldeburgh. This book helps us understand the relationship of Britten's music to his life, and takes us as far into its alchemy as we are ever likely to go.
Description
Benjamin Britten was Britain's greatest twentieth-century composer, who broke decisively with figures such as Elgar and Vaughan Williams and recreated English music in a fresh, modern, European form.Benjamin Britten was Britain's greatest twentieth-century composer, who broke decisively with figures such as Elgar and Vaughan Williams and recreated English music in a fresh, modern, European form. Paul Kildea's biography is now the definitive account of Britten's extraordinary life, exploring his passionately held and controversial pacifism; his complex forty-year relationship with Peter Pears; and his determined - sometimes ruthless - making of an artistic community in Aldeburgh. Above all, the book helps us understand the relationship of Britten's music to his life, and takes us as far into his creative process as we are ever likely to go.'Enthralling . . . a truly fascinating portrait of a genius.'Richard Morrison, The Times'Indispensable . . . this is a masterly, highly readable account.'Barry Millington, Evening Standard'It feels definitive.'Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times'Bracingly opinionated and beautifully articulated. Brings all Britten's complexities vividly to life.'Rupert Christiansen, Spectator'A compelling portrait of Britten not just as a brilliant composer, but a significant historical figure.'Adam Lively, Sunday Times, Books of the Year'A major achievement. Kildea is a dazzling writer . . . who writes so naturally and musically and well. There are a million brilliant, beautiful or striking sentences.' Jay Nordlinger, Standpoint'Delightful and compelling.'Matthew Bell, Independent on Sunday
Critic Reviews
“Indispensable ... This is a masterly, highly readable account and the most comprehensive to date of the life and work of one of the 20th century's great musical figures”
-- Barry Millington Evening Standard
[A] wise, cautious, challenging book ... Kildea's verbal explorations of the music are done with level-headed sensitivity leavened by a quirky lightness of touch -- Alexandra Harris New Statesman
About the Author
Paul Kildea holds an honours degree in piano performance and a masters degree in musicology from The University of Melbourne - where he is now an Honorary Principal Fellow and where in 2016 he was Miegunyah Distinguished Visiting Fellow - and a doctorate from Oxford University. His books include Selling Britten and Britten on Music. In January 2013 Penguin published Benjamin Britten: A Life in the Twentieth Century to enormous critical acclaim; it is now widely recognized as the best book on its subject, the Financial Times calling it 'unquestionably the music book of the year.' In June 2018 Penguin published Chopin's Piano: A Journey Through Romanticism, which is currently being developed as a feature film. In October 2019 he succeeded Carl Vine as Artistic Director of Musica Viva, Australia.
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